At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects to transform land use decision-making through data and digital solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking team within the Defra Land Use Unit.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension contributions, flexible working, and tailored learning opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for collaboration across government and external partners.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainable land use and contribute to vital government decisions.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading data or analytical projects, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 66582 - 75000 £ per year.
About the job
This is a new role in a new team set up to implement the recently published Land Use Framework.
You will play a critical role in the development of the Defra Land Use Unit including launching new research and analysis projects.
The Land Use Unit will enable Government to make more coherent, strategic decisions about how England’s finite land resource supports nature recovery, climate resilience, food production, water quality and economic growth.
At present, land use decisions are often fragmented, with competing objectives pursued in isolation, inconsistent evidence, and no shared spatial framework for understanding trade‑offs or aligning priorities.
The Unit will address these barriers by acting as Government’s spatial ‘operating system’ for land use.
By improving the consistency, accessibility and use of spatial evidence, and linking policy with real‑world delivery insights, the Unit will strengthen confidence in decision‑making.
Ultimately, it will help ensure land is used more effectively and sustainably, enabling Government to deliver the Outcomes Framework in a coordinated way.
Job Summary
You will manage projects in a new team focused on making land digital, improving access to data and transforming the way decisions are taken about land use in England.
You will manage new research projects focused on the evidence gaps identified in the Land Use Framework.
You will work across Defra Group to collate and drive relevant data and digital reform activity; with external partners to open up access and test data sharing initiatives; and cross‑Government to ensure spatial planning tools are integrated and develop solutions to address gaps in decision tools.
Job Description
As a key member of the team, you will develop and deliver the evidence and digital outputs needed to support land use decision‑making across the Government.
This includes managing research projects, collaborating with cross‑government partners, and ensuring that digital solutions are data‑driven, user‑friendly and aligned with policy objectives.
Person Specification
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and improve access to spatial data and analytical products across the Land Use Unit and Defra to inform land use change decision‑making.
- Translate ministerial priorities and strategic goals into clear data and digital priorities and outcomes.
- Improve access, usability and application of spatial data and products.
- Lead digital reform activity.
- Identify evidence gaps on land use policy and commission a research programme to address these.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships across Defra Group to drive reform, with other government departments to integrate spatial planning tools, and with external partners to harness innovation.
- Provide analysis and support coordination of evidence and policy for teams in Defra in relation to land use change (including spatial targeting).
Essential Criteria
- Experience leading data, digital or analytical projects, ideally involving spatial data or evidence.
- Ability to coordinate and influence teams across Government and lead multidisciplinary projects.
- Ability to operate across organisational boundaries, aligning multiple teams and departments.
- Excellent ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively and influence senior leaders including Ministers.
- Ability to interpret and apply spatial evidence to real‑world policy challenges.
Benefits
Salary: £56,375. Defra contributes £16,331 towards membership in the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- An Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- Nationality requirements
- UK nationals
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020.
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
